The Message of the Bible for Today's Believer
The Bible's message for believers today centers on the "Good News" (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, which is presented as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes [2, 8]. This message, though kept secret through long ages, has now been revealed through the Scriptures of the prophets and made known to all nations for the obedience of faith [1, 13].
Central to this message is the concept of faith, which is described as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen [7]. Faith is commanded and its objects include God, Christ, the writings of Moses and the prophets, and the promises of God [7]. Through faith, the blessing of Abraham comes to Gentiles, allowing them to receive the promise of the Spirit [4]. Those who believe are considered blessed [5]. Conversely, anything not done out of faith is considered sin [1].
The Gospel itself is characterized as good tidings of great joy, foretold in the Old Testament and revealing the grace and glory of God [8]. It brings life and immortality to light through Jesus [8]. The message emphasizes that salvation is from God, by His purpose and appointment, and is accomplished through Christ alone [9]. This salvation was announced after the Fall and was predicted for both Israel and the Gentiles [9].
Believers are encouraged to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ [6]. The message also includes a warning to exhort one another daily, "so long as it is called 'today'," to prevent hardening of hearts through sin's deceitfulness [3]. This "today" refers to the present opportunity to hear God's voice, which includes the precepts and the Gospel of Christ [10, 11]. Those who believe enter into a spiritual rest in Christ, a rest from the burden of the law and from striving for salvation by works, leading to inward peace [12]. This rest is not eternal rest, which is a future inheritance, but a present spiritual experience [12, 15]. The Gospel is a word of grace, and believers are urged not to receive this grace in vain, but to believe and comply with its design [14].
Sources
- Romans “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. -- Romans 14:23”
- Romans “For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. -- Romans 1:16”
- Hebrews “but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. -- Hebrews 3:13”
- Galatians “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. -- Galatians 3:14”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Blessed, The — Whom God chooses -- Ps 65:4; Eph 1:3,4. Whom God calls -- Isa 51:2; Re 19:9. Who know Christ -- Mt 16:16,17. Who know the gospel -- Ps 89:15. Who are not offended at Christ -- Mt 11:6. Who believe -- Lu 1:45; Ga 3:9. Whose sins are forgiven -- Ps 32:1,2; Ro 4:7. To whom God imputes righteousness without works -- Ro 4:6-9. Whom God chastens -- Job 5:17; Ps 94:12. Who suffer for Christ -- Lu 6:22. Who have the Lord for their God -- Ps 144:15. Who trust in God -- Ps 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12; Jer 17:7. Who fear God -- Ps 112:1; 128:1,4. Who hear and keep th”
- II Peter “II Peter 3:18 (BSB) — But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faith — Is the substance of things hoped for -- Heb 11:1. Is the evidence of things not seen -- Heb 11:1. Commanded -- Mt 11:22; 1Jo 3:23. The objects of, are God. -- Joh 14:1. Christ. -- Joh 6:29; Ac 20:21. Writings of Moses. -- Joh 5:46; Ac 24:14. Writings of the prophets. -- 2Ch 20:20; Ac 26:27. The gospel. -- Mr 1:15. Promises of God. -- Ro 4:21; Heb 11:13. In Christ is The gift of God. -- Ro 12:3; Eph 2:8; 6:23; Php 1:29. The work of God. -- Ac 11:21; 1Co 2:5. Precious. -- 2Pe 1:1. Most holy. -- Jude 1:20. Fruitful. -- 1Th 1:3. Accompanied by repentance. -- Mr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:7: Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith,.... In Psa 95:7 today if you will hear his voice; either the precepts of Christ, to hear which is to obey them; and this is an acknowledgment to Christ as King of saints, and is a testimony of love to him, and is wellpleasing in his sight; and in which the saints find pleasure themselves, and profit also: or the Gospel of Christ, which is a voice of love, grace, and mercy; of peace and reconciliation; of pardon and righteousness; of liberty, redemption, and salvation by Christ; and to hear it, is not only to hear it externally, but”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 3:7: Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today - These words are quoted from Psa 95:7; and as they were written by David, and attributed here to the Holy Ghost, it proves that David wrote, by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. As these words were originally a warning to the Israelites not to provoke God, lest they should be excluded from that rest which he had promised them, the apostle uses them here to persuade the Christians in Palestine to hold fast their religious privileges, and, the grace they had received, lest they should come short of that state of future gl”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 4:3: For we which have believed do enter into rest,.... Not eternal rest; all believers shall enjoy this, and they only; but this is not now, or at present enjoyed, unless things future may be said to be present, because of faith in them, and the certainty of them but spiritual rest in Christ under the Gospel dispensation, which is a rest from the burden of the law of Moses, and from all toil and labour for life, and salvation by works, and lies in an enjoyment of much inward peace of soul, notwithstanding the world's troubles and Satan's temptations; and such who believe ”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 16:24: But now is made manifest,.... In these last days, in which God has spoken by his Son, by whom the doctrines of grace are most clearly revealed, and fully dispensed; and by his apostles, who were blessed with a clear insight into them, and with extraordinary gifts to minister them; and by the Scriptures of the prophets; or prophetic writings, in which these truths are hinted, and by which, being made manifest by Christ and his apostles, they are attested and confirmed; according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 6:1: In these verses we have an account of the apostle's general errand and exhortation to all to whom he preached in every place where he came, with the several arguments and methods he used. Observe, I. The errand or exhortation itself, namely, to comply with the gospel offers of reconciliation - that, being favoured with the gospel, they would not receive this grace of God in vain, Co2 6:1. The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears; but it will be in vain for us to hear it, unless we believe it, and comply with the end and design of it. And as it is t”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 4:10: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,.... Not eternal rest; this is not to be entered into now; nor is an entrance into it to be obtained by labour; salvation is not by works; eternal life is a free gift; good works do not go before to prepare heaven for the saints, but follow after: nor is the saints' entrance into it a precarious thing; God has promised it, and provided it for his people; Christ is in the possession of it, and is preparing it for them; and the Spirit of God is working them up for the self same thing, and Christ will give them an abundant”